Plastic mateeials



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patente-d Feb.A 24, 18'91.

W. A. HULL & A. @BOYER PRESS FOR' SHAPING'PLASTIG MATERIALS.

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(No Mode1.)'

(No Mode1. A 5 sheets-*sheet 2. W. A. HULL 8v A. G. BOYER. PRESS'EORSHAPING PLASTIC MATERIALS.

No. 447,187. Patented Peb. 24, 1891.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. A. HULL 8v A. G. BOYER. PRESS FOR SHAPING PLASTICMATERIALS.

Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

1 (.No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

BR. ERIALS.

W. A. HULL & A. G. BOY PRESS' POR SHAPING PLASTIC MAT No. 447,187. tentPa. ed Febf24, '1891.

(No Model.) I sweetssheet 5.

W. A. HULL 84 AG. BOYER.`

PRESS FOR SHAPING PLASTIC MATERIALS.

No. 447,187. Patented Peb. 24; 1891.

L f d ,7 e fd MA/v w v. 2 c ,c .W 4c a ,K Y Y 4 Y S UNrTn TATES ATENTunion.

VOLOOTT A. HULL AND ARTHUR Gr. BOYER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.; SAID BOYERASSIGNOR TO SAID HULL.

PRESS FOR `SHAPING PLASTICA MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of yLetters Patent No. 447,187, datedFebruary 24,1891. Application filed February 6, 1890. Renewed JanuaryZ2, 1891. Serial No. 378,626. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that We, WoLoo'rT A. HULL and ARTHUR G. BOYER, both of NewYork, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Presses for Shaping or Forming PlasticMaterialfof which the following is a specification. Y

This improvement relates to presses designed for shaping or formingplastic material, such as yeast-cakes.

Ve will describe a press embodying our improvement, and then point outthe novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure l is a front elevation of a pressembodying our improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken in theplane parallel with that of Fig. l and showing the parts of the press inthe starting position, or, in other words, in that position which theyloccupy during the feeding or supplying of material. Fig. 3 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in lthe positions which they assumeafteroccupyin g the positions represented in Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a viewsimilar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing the parts in the positions which theyoccupy at the completion of the pressing operation. Figs. 2, 3, and 4are somewhat peculiar views, in that the upper and lower port-ions arerepresented as they would appear in a front View, and the intermediateportion is represented in vertical section. Fig. 5 is a plan of aportion of a movable plate comprised in the press. Fig. 6 is a verticalsection taken at the plane of the line o o, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is ahorizontal section taken at the plane of the dotted line w w, Fig. 6.Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a portion of a fixed mold-plate, aportion of' the movable plate before mentioned, and two end sections orplungers cooperating with said plates, these end sections or plungersbeing represented as having portions of their length removed, so as toeconomize space in the drawing, and thereby enable them to berepresentedon alarge scale. Fig. 9

' is atop view of one of the end sections orplungers. Fig. lO is acentral vertical section of an end section or plunger of modifiedconstruction. Fig. 11 is a top view of the end section orplungerillustrated in Fig. l0. Fig.

l2 is a view similar to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, butit illustrates a differentconstruction. Fig. 13 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of one of the elements of the machine represented in Fig. l2.Fig. 14. is atop view of one section of the part represented in Fig. 13.f

Similar' letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all theigures. i

Referring first to Figs. l to 9, inclusive, A

designates whatwe term the movable plate ,of the press. V

B designates the fixed moldplate, and C C2. designate end sections orplungers. The movable plate and fixed plate each has a number ofcavities, and the end sections or plungers correspond in number andpositionrwith: these cavities. Material to be pressed isintroduced intothe movable plate. At the starting of the press the lower end sectionsor plungers extend within the cavities of the movable plate, closing thelower ends thereof. Material to be pressed is introduced into themovable plate above the lower end sections or plungers. Thelower endsections or plungers and the movable plate together rise, and by thismotion some of the material will be forced into the cavities of thefixed plate. The remainder of the material will be forced into the fixedplate by the subsequent rising of the lower end sections or plungersthrough the movable plate, and after all the material has been forcedinto the fixed plate it will be compressed therein by the two series ofend sections or plungers and so molded. Y f f Having given this generaldescr tion, which we believe will facilitate an -understanding of thepress, we will proceed togve a more detailed description of thesame.

The fixed mold-plate B may advantageously be of rectangular form andsupported by upright posts D. There will preferablybe four of theseposts, and the corners of the 'fixed incid-plate will be provided withlugs made hollow to fit the posts. 4The plate can then be secured in aiixed position upon the posts by means of set-screws b, tting tappedholes in thelugs of the plates andimpinging against the posts. Obviouslyby loosening the setscrews provision will be afforded for adj usting theplate vertically upon`the posts to a IOO new position, and thetightening of the setscrews again will effect the retention of the platein the new position.

In the present instance the press is constructed with a special view ofpressing yeastcakes, and so the cavities of the fixed plate al'e madeelliptical, as indicated in Fig. 7.

rThe movable plate A has cavities similar to those of the fixed plate B,these cavities being represented by Fig. 7 and corresponding in positionto the position of the cavities in the fixed plate. The upper surface ofthis plate is divided off into rectangular spaces, which are separatedby very narrow edges a'. (See particularly Figs. 5 and 6.) Theserectangular spaces communicate with the cavities and are contracteddownwardly to the contour of the cavities, so that they form flaringmouths of rectangular form for the cavities. As shown, these flaringmouths are made in a section, which is separate from the main portion ofthe plate; but this is a nonessential feature, and, indeed, the flaringmouths may be entirely dispensed with in the treatment of somematerials.

The movable plate A is supported by a nu mber of springs E, here shownas surrounding` bolts or rods F, that extend upwardly and are supportedby a movable part of an engine R', here represented as made in the formof a hydraulic ram. As here shown, the bolts or rods F extend upwardlyfrom a gas-chamber G2, that is carried by the movable part of theengine, and they enter a base-flange a, with which the movable part A isprovided. The springs E surround these bolts or rods between the top ofthe gas-chamber G and the flange a of the movable plate. Nuts applied tothe upper ends of the bolts or rods may be adjusted to vary the range ofmovement of the movable plate. The particular manner in which thesprings E are arranged to support the movable plate A is not material,so long as these springs are intermediate of the movable plate and amovable part of the engine.

II ldesignates a receiver for material to be pressed. It is made in theform of a frame, which conforms in shape to the extremity of the movableplate and fits snugly around the same. This frame is supported bysprings, so that it may yield automatically. In the present instance itis supported by springs I, which surround rods or bolts J, that extendfrom the base-flange a of the movable plat-e A upward through a flange7i, with which the receiver I-I is at its base provided. Nuts applied tothe upper end of these rods or bolts may be adjusted to alter the rangeof movement of the receiver. Then the machine is ready to start, asrepresented in Fig. 2, this receiver H is forced upwardly by the springsI and extends above the movable plate. It is then in position to receivethe material which is to be pressed. The material introduced into thereceptacle H will descend into the cavities of the movable plate.

IVhiie the part ce may be a mere base-flange, as heretofore explained,yet it may be constructed independently of the receptacle proper andmerely as a yielding support to the same. Inthe latter case thereceptacle could be removed without removing theflange or support d.

The movable part Ir of the engine R has attached to it a plate orplatform r3, which, as here shown, is provided at the corners withhollow lugs that fit in the posts D. rlhis platform 9 is movedvertically by the engine and is guided in its travel by the posts. Thegasehamber G2is mounted upon this platform r3, and of course carriedthereby. At the top of the press is another engine R2, supported on aplatform P. This engine may advantageously be an air-engine. It has apistonrod r2, which is connected with a plate or platform r4, that isfitted to slide vertically upon the p osts D. The gas-chamber D issecured to the plate of.

The engine R2 is provided with a rotary valve, which has a stem T5, thatprotrudes through the case. A volute spring lr6 is attached to thisstein and also to the platform P. The stein has attached to it a wheelr7. A cord fr8 is attached to this wheel 7'?, wound around the same,passed then cearo und aguid epulley r", thence around a guide-pulleyr1", and at the cxtremityis fastened to the platform r3, that isoperated by the engine R. 'lhe cord is connected to the platform r3 byhaving attached to its end a boltthat extends through a plate which issecured to the platform r3, a nut being applied to the bolt beneath saidplate, so as to adjustably connect the bolt with the said platform.

Itis obvious that d n ring the deseentof the platform r3 the cord frswill move the valve of the exigirle R2 in one direction, and that as theplatform r3 moves upwardly the spring r6 will operate the valve in thereverse direction. The valve may at any time be moved by hand in thedirection in which it is moved by the descent of the platform r3 if thecord is suitablypuiied. Any other-suitable means for automaticallymoving the valve ot' the engine may be used.

The two series of end mold -sections or plungers C C2 are attached,respectively, to the gas-chambers G G2 and move therewith. Gas issupplied to the gas-chambers by pipes g g2, which are connected byflexible pipes g with a source of supply. The gas used may be air underpressure and may come fromthe same source of supply as that by which theengine R2 is operated when the latter is of such character as to beoperated by airorother gas. The supply of gas to the chamber G iscontrolled by a valve g3, fitted to the pipe tj. and having a protrudingstem, which, on the downward movement of the gas-chamber G" to a certainpoint, will contact with a fixed stop g, and thereby be pressed inwardsc as to admit gas. On the reverse movement of the gas-chamber G thevalve will eloseauto- ICO IIO

niat-ically. The stop g4 is here shown as provided with a collar -thatlits around one of the posts D and is retained in position thereon bymeans of aset-screw. When so made and combined with a post D, it is ofcourse adjustable. This is advantageous', because it affords the machinea capacity of adjustment. The manner in which the valve will contactwith the stop may be readily understood by reference to Figs. l and .2,and the effect upon the valve of an upward movement of the gaschainber Gmay be seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

The supply of gas to the chamber G2 is controlled by a valve g5, fittedto the pipe g2. This valve is opened automatically by means of a stopQ6, attached to the iiange a of the movable plate A. This stop iscarried upward by the upward movement of the movable plate; but uponthis upward movement of said plate being arrested becomes a fixture, andin the second upward movement of the valve with the gas-chamber G2 thestem ofthe valve contacts with the stop and results in the opening ofthe valve. The valve is closed by a spring, aided by the pressure of thegas itself. The opening of the valve is illustrated in 4. In the otherfigures it is closed.

The stop gG consists of a rod bent outwardly from the flange d of themovable plate and turned downwardly at the outer extremity. The outerextremity is screw-threaded and a ball-shaped nut is iitted thereto.This nut may be adjustable to vary the time of the opening of the valve.A similar nut may advantageously be used as a part of the stop g4.-

The end sections C C2 are substantially similar in construction. Eachone of these end sections or plungers consists of a body portion c and ashank portion c". In Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 5 the body portion is shownas made quite long and the shank portion comparatively short. The bodyportion may be made short and the shank portion long, as represented inFigs. 8 and l0. Preferably the body portion will be made independentlyand attached by means of screw-threads or otherwise to the shankportion, as in this way provision will be afforded for pressing articlesof different shapes without introducing complete end sections orplungers into the press.

The operative extremities of the end sections or plungers represent-edin the drawings are constructed of such shape as to form the ends of anellipsoidal article, and therefore have cup-shaped cavities c2, whichare elliptical at the extremities. From the cup-shaped cavity of eachend section or plunger an opening or passage cs extends to the extremityof the shank. At the junction of the passage c2 with the cavity c2 avalve V is arranged. The stem c of this valve extends through thepassage c2, and at the outer extremity beyond the shank portion of theend section has fitted to ita valve V2. Thisvalve V2 may be made in theform of a disk, secured by a screw-thread within itself or byscrew-threads formed upon nuts applied on each side of it to the stem.It may even be slipped on and retained there by friction.

The valves V of the upper' end sections or plungers will normally beopen, because the weight of these valves, together with the weight oftheir stems, will cause them to drop downwardly. They will besupported-by the contact of the corresponding valves V2'upon n the upperextremities of these end sections or plun gers. those drawings which aremadeupon a small scale, because there the valves V2, belonging to theupper end sections or plungers, are represented by a single line, and toclearly illustrate them by a single line it is necessary to show a spacebeneath them.

Vtfe will now give a detailed description of the operation of themachine. Before the feeding of material the parts will be adjusted intothe positions in which they are represented in Figs l and 2. Thematerial to be treated will then be introduced into the receptacle I'I,and will of course fall into the upper part of the cavities of themovable plate A and rest upon the upper extremities of the lower seriesof end sections or plungers C. Having supplied the material, theoperator shifts the valve of the engine R', in the present instance bypressing his foot against a treadle rw, which controls said valve. It isobvious that this treadle or lever could be operated periodically byacam M, if desired. The engine R having been started, the lower endsections C2, the movable plate A, and the receptacle II will be carriedupward. As soon as the receptacle H reaches the bottom of the fixedplate B its movement will be arrested and the upward movement of themovable plate will bring it into contact with the bottom of the fixedplate B, whereupon its movement will cease. This condition of themachine is illustrated by Fig. 3. The arresting of the receptacle H andthe movable plate A has no effect upon the end sections or plungers C2,so the upward movement of these end sections or plungers continues andtheir upper extremities enter the cavities of the fixed plate B andcarry the mat'erial to be treated upward into these cavities. The upperend sections or plungers, it will be remembered, were at the beginningof the operation of the press in such position that their lowerextremitiesprojected below the iixed plate. The upward movement of theplatform 'r2 with the lower end sections or vplungers, the movable plateA, and the receptacle I-I. caused an upward movement of the cord r2 andallowed the spring 'r6 to adjust the valve of the engine R2. Theoperation of the engine R2 effected the raising of the upper endsections or plungers C. This movement will be understood by reference toFig. 3, where theyl are represented in their extreme upward position. Inthis position they remain until the lower end sections or plungers byVtheir upward movement sh all have pressed the This is not clearly shownin IOO IIO

material tothe desired degree between themselves, the upper end sectionsor plungers, and the sides of the cavities in the fixed plate. Thiscompression is illustrated in Fig. 4. As the lower end sections orplungers C2 reach the end of their upward movement the stem of the valvecontacts with the stop g. The valve is thereby opened, and gas isadmitted to the gas-chamber G2. This gas rises throug'h the passages otthe end sections or plungers C2, opens the valves V, and, having donethis, enters the cavities c2 of these end sections or plungers. Thepressure of the gas will disengage the pressed articles from the endsections or plungers C2 as soon as ,the downward movement of the lattercommences. The action ot the gas is automatically regulated inproportion to the resistance offered to the opening of the valves V,for,by being cut off quickly from those end sections or plungers whosevalves V open easily, the gas will be concentrated on those other endsections or plungers whose valves V require the exertion ot' greaterforce to open them. The gas within the chamber G2. actsupon the valvesV2 of the end sections or plungers C2, and by forcing them to theirseats stops the further fiow ot' gas into said end sections or plungers.The compression having been completed, the operator or the cam, if onebe used, releases the trcadle or lever rw and thus causes the loweringof the lower end sections or plungers, the movable plate, and thereceptacle H, besides reversing the valve of the engine R2 by pullingupon thefcord rs. The reversal of the engine R2 lowers the upper endsections or plungers C until their lower extremities protrude from thebottoni of the fixed plate B. Thus the pressed articles or cakes will bedriven out of the fixed plate. The lowering ot the gas-chamber G withthe upper end sections or plungers will cause the stem of the valve g3to contact with the stop g4. Thus the valve will be opened, gas will beallowed to flow from the gas-chamber G through the passages of the endsections or plungers C to the end cavities of the latter, and in thisway the cakes or pressed articles will be detached, provided they shallnot have before dropped ot'f. By this time all the parts will haveresumed the positions in which they are represented in Figs. l and 2.The detached articles may be caught in a tray T. (Represented in Fig.2.)

In Fig. l2 the movable plate is made in two sections A A2, which aredetachably connected together, like the two parts of an ordinary dieused for articles of celluloid, rubber, or plastic material of a similarnature. Indeed, these two sections are precisely like the sections of adie used for materials of this class, excepting that their cavities arebottomles's. The plastic material is intended to be introduced in theform ot' a sheet between the two sections of the movable plate. In otherrespects the operation of the machine will be like that originallydescribed.

The end section or plunger illustrated in Fig. l0 has no valve V, but inlieu thereof a diaphragm ot perforated or reticulated material V3.Instead of a valve V2 attached to a stem, it has an ordinary flap-valveV, which is attached -at one point to the extremity of the end sectionor plunger.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a press, the combination of two series of end mold-sections orplun gers having a relative movement, a fixed mold-plate, and a movableplate, substantially as specified.

2. In a press, the combination of two series of end mold-sections orplungers, an engine for moving one of said series, a fixed moldplate, amovable plate, and springs intermediate of the movable plate and theengine for transmitting motion from the engine to said movable plate,substantially as specified.

3. Ina press, the combination ot two series ot end mold-sections orplungers, an engine for moving one of said series, a fixed moldplate, amovable plate having cavities fitting one of said series oi' end moldsections or plungers, springs, and bolt-s for adjustably limiting therange ot` movement ot the movable plate, substantially as specified.

4. In a press, the combination of two series of end mold-sections orplungers, an engine for moving one of said series, a fixed moldplate, amovable plate, springs intermediate of the plate and the engine fortransmitting motion from the engine to said movable plate, a receiverfitting round one end ot the movable plate, and springs for supportingthereceiver, substantially as specified.

5. In a press, the combination of two series of end mold-sections orplungers, an engine for moving one of said series, a fixed moldplate, amovable plate, springs intermediate of the movable plate and the enginefor transmitting motion from the engine to said movable plate, areceiver fitting round one end of the movable plate, springs forsupportingthe receiver, and adjustable bolts for limiting the movementot' the receiver, substantially as specified.

6. In a press, the combination of two series of end mold-sections orplungers, two engines for imparting motion to the two series of endmold-sections or plungers, a connection between the valve ot one engineand a part moved by the other engine, a valve controlling the enginelast named, a fixed moldplate, and a movable plate, substantially asspecified.

7. In a press, the combination of a fixed mold-plate, two series of endmold-sections or plungers having passages through them, gaschambers withwhich said end mold-sections or plungers communicate, and valves at theoperative extremities of said end mold-sections or plungers,substantially as specified.

8. In a press, the combina-tion ot a fixed mold-plate, two series of endmold-sections or plungers having passages through them, gas- IIOemitters with which Said @mi incid-sections or plnngers eonimnnioate5Valves at the] 0peratiife eltreiniti'es of said end Inoldlseetions orpliin'gers, and Valves at the inner extremities of said endmold-sections or plungers, the two sets of Valves belonging to eachseries of encl molcl-seetions or plungersbeing connected together,substantially as speoied. 9. In a press, the combination of a fixedmold-plate, two series of end mold-sections or plungers having passagesthrough them, gasehambers with which said end mold-sections or plungerscommunicate, valves Controlling the ingress of gas to said chambers, andadj nstable stops or tappets for effecting the openin g of said Valves2vsubstantially as specified.

l0.- ln a press, the eonlloination of a fixed inoldLplate two series ofend mold-sections or plnngers; and a movable plate having Gavi tiesprovided at the upper end with beveled or aring months havingrectangular extremities which are separated by narrow edges,substantially as specified.

In testimony that We ola-ini the foregoing We hereunto set our names.

W'OLCOTT A. HULL. ARTHUR G. BOYER.A

Vtnesses:

S. O. EDMoNDs, WILLIAM M. ILIFF.

